Breathlessly, Harper explained her theory to Lolly.

‘So you’re saying you found one of these badges on the river path near school,’ said Lolly.

‘Yes, on my first day. This one with all the scratches.’

‘And you threw it back in the river?’ Lolly was frowning while Harper tried to think how to explain why she’d done that. Luckily, her grandmother had already moved on.

‘Where were you when you did it?’ Lolly asked.

‘Just down there.’ She pointed at the spot that you could see from Lolly’s balcony.

‘That’s a shallow spot,’ Lolly explained. ‘It’s not impossible that an object would end up somewhere reachable, especially with all the rain. Just think, that incredible bird bringing it back! She’s brought me things before. People think they steal shiny things but ravens never keep anything for themselves apart from food. It’s probably more accurate to say that they’re scared of shiny things. Maybe she thought the badge would be better off with me.’

‘Maybe,’ said Harper. What she really thought was that the two badges wanted to be together again.

‘So the other one is from my shelves,’ said Lolly. ‘The one that was in my mother’s jewellery box.’

‘Yes, I think that one was Molly’s, and this one might have been Mae’s.’

‘And you worked out all of this from some things you’ve read about in the school library archive.’

‘More or less.’

‘Goodness. Seems like this one was just desperate to come home.’

‘Exactly, Lolly.’

Every time Harper looked at the two badges, she had a soft, tingling feeling all over her skin.

Lolly picked up her keys for the evening dog walk. Annie and Murph were ready and waiting in seconds. ‘Where’s Hector? In your room?’ she said.

‘Probably, I’ll go and get him.’

Hector was not in his little croissant-shape at the end of her bed. He wasn’t on Lolly’s bed, either, or underneath it. They checked the whole flat, calling for him. Harper looked everywhere, pushing aside the shower curtain, even looking inside the washing machine, and more obvious places like the wardrobe. Harper opened the hallway cupboard but no little dog came running out.

Lolly opened the back door and stood outside.

‘Now I’m wondering if he came back with me earlier,’ she said, rubbing her temples.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well he’s not here, is he? I’m starting to doubt my memory. Maybe I took it for granted that he was right beside the other two like he always is. He could be anywhere. I’m going out to look for him.’ She whistled for the others and slid her feet into the boots that were always waiting at the door.

Harper followed, feeling sick for not realising Hector was missing sooner. Annie and Murph’s long faces seemed more fretful than usual.

They looked until it was after dark and their voices were sore from shouting his name. Hector was nowhere to be found.